What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

23^rd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25B)

Mark 10.46-52

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 16:00)

 

In recent weeks, our journey through the Gospel according to Mark has allowed us to accompany Jesus and his disciples on their trek from Galilee to Jerusalem. What will prove to be Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Very shortly, in a matter days, Jesus will make his triumphal journey into that city, where he will be hailed as King. The events we have come to know as Palm Sunday. The beginning of Jesus’ Passion, leading to his death and ultimately to his resurrection.

 

Knowing what awaits him, Jesus takes the opportunity throughout this journey to prepare his disciples. He has told them three times what will happen. Although, they do not quite seem to get it. But then again, who would—who could—fully comprehend such horrific news? They are, understandably, in denial. And yet, Jesus perseveres. Throughout the journey he continues to teach them about what it means to be his followers. Preparing them to take up the mantle of his mission and ministry once he has departed.

 

On the surface, what we hear in today’s Gospel is just another story of Jesus healing a blind man. We’ve heard so many stories of Jesus healing those who were infirmed. Including other stories of giving sight to the blind. In many ways, it is just more of the same. And yet, occurring where it does, this story contains a deeper meaning, has a deeper significance. You see, today’s Gospel reading is the final story before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As such, it is a transition. A gateway, if you will, to what is to happen once Jesus enters the gates of Jerusalem. Before Jesus, through his resurrection, enters the gates of heaven. While there are a few more lessons before that actually happens, today’s story of the healing of Bartimaeus serves as a summary of Jesus’ teachings thus far and provides insight into what is to come. Not for Jesus, but for those who follow him.

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Do For Us Whatever We Ask

22^nd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24B)

Mark 10.35-45

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 22:15)

 

Okay, when a conversation begins with “I want you to do whatever I ask,” you can be pretty certain it is going to be something you don’t want to do. Or that, in reality, you are not able to do. Personally, I’m always extremely cautious when someone starts with something along the lines of “will you do me a favor?” Striving to be a man of my word, I don’t want to commit to anything without knowing what I’m getting into. I don’t want to commit to something that I feel uncomfortable with or am not capable of doing. So, I immediately go into defensive mode with my standard response being “that depends.” I try to be open and will, if possible, see what I can do to accommodate the request. But I’ll tell you right now, I draw the line at helping people get rid of bodies.

 

You kinda get a similar sense from Jesus in today’s Gospel. Not the part about getting rid of bodies. But about the caution, even apprehension, at being blindsided with “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

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Put Your Money Where Your Faith Is

21^st Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22B)

Mark 10.17-31

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 24:20)

 

Last week was the start of our annual stewardship campaign, with the theme of “Walk in Love.” Over a seven-week period we will explore, through reflections by parishioners, what it means for us to Walk in Love—with God and with our neighbors. We will explore what part St. Gregory’s plays in that walk of love. Or we could make it easy, reduce the stewardship campaign to one day by simply following Jesus’ directions to the rich young man: “sell what you own, and give the money to the poor.” Or in this case, give the money to the church. Let us take care of distributing it to the poor. After all, that is one of the primary ministries of the church.

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Models for the Kingdom of God

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22B)

Mark 10.2-16

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook page (beginning at 25:25)

 

Once again, the Pharisees are testing Jesus, trying to trick him into saying something blasphemous, something they could use as evidence of heresy. And once again, Jesus sidesteps the trap and, in the process, turns the tables on the Pharisees, presenting a masterful, albeit subtle condemnation of the religious authorities. This time, the subject of discussion is marriage and divorce. While Jesus ultimately succeeds in making marriage and divorce a metaphor for relationship with God, before we go there, we need to take a look at some of the nuances of marriage and divorce as viewed in Jesus’ time.

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